Soulpie, a local 13-piece band, played at The Mill Casino-Hotel on July 4 and at Shore Acres State Park in Charleston on July 18 as part of the Oregon Coast Music Festival. (Photos contributed by Grami Photography)
Wow. The sound that emanates from this group is amazing.
Although that can be said of many South Coast-borne bands, you can almost bet most cannot boast it has its own horn section.
The Bay Area-based Soulpie, which now consists of 13 band members, more than a decade ago was the conception of Michael Brumit, the band leader and lead singer. Now it features some of the area’s best musicians Brumit said he could find — each with an extensive musical background and most in more than one band while holding down professional careers or going to school. Brumit, who said his early interest in music was sparked while sitting on his father’s lap while he was playing the piano, has a bachelor’s in music and is in the process of obtaining his master’s.
Bands and artists a few of the band members said have influenced them are from a wide range, and include The Righteous Brothers, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass Band, The Beatles, Beach Boys, The Mamas & the Papas, Manhattan Transfer, Journey, Etta James, Doobie Brothers, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, James Taylor, Merle Haggard, Dottie West, Hendrix, Zeppelin, Cream, Blue Cheer, Iron Butterfly, and the Motown/Stax contingent.
From there, you make Soulpie.
Did I mention that five-piece horn section?
Michael Brumit, aka "Mr. Soulpie," formed the band, Soulpie.
The band, in pretty much its current form, came together in January 2008. It played about seven or eight shows last year, and about 12 so far this year. Soulpie has upcoming performances at The Mill Casino-Hotel this weekend, on July 4 at The Mill Casino-Hotel, in the Salmon Room from 9-11 p.m., and on July 18 at Shore Acres for the Oregon Coast Music Festival.
The following is a question-and-answer interview with Brumit who, once he dons his signature black and white performance suit, prefers to be called “Mr. Soulpie.”
Gig: How is it to be the band leader, and did you conceive of Soulpie?
Brumit: Yes. I had the plan in mind in 1997. Parts of it worked out in a former band. In June 2001 I said, ‘OK. I’m doing this and I’m doing it my way.’ There’s got to be a head. I coordinate, but it’s really a collaboration. Each and every one of the musicians I play with is a trusted guidance counselor.
Gig: What was your goal in creating Soulpie?
Brumit: I just wanted to be really fun with this, and at the same time maintain the highest standards of music by getting excellent musicians.
Gig: How would you describe the type of music Soulpie plays?
Brumit: Soulpie plays Soul, R&B, and some bigger band arrangements, but more importantly music that is soulful. There are many songs with “soul” that span genres of music. Many Country artists play soulful songs, many of the Rock artists from the 70’s played soulful songs, Ray Charles played many soulful songs and some tried to pigeonhole him into soul, brother Ray undoubtedly played some music that was straight-up country.
Gig: Can you name some of the tunes on Soulpie’s song list?
Brumit: Mustang Sally, Dirty Work, Are You Lonely for Me Baby, Shake a Tail Feather, Route 66, Moondance, Son of a Preacher Man, Soulman, The Sky is Cryin’, Take me to the River. We find the soul in the music that is everywhere and bring it out, Soulpie style.
Gig: Where did the current band first start rehearsing and when was your first performance?
Brumit: We originally started practicing in an old scuba shop in Empire. Our first show out was January 31, 2008. We opened for a jazz festival preview.
Gig: Did the band undergo changes to get to what it is today, and what does the name, “Soulpie featuring the Brass Knuckles and Sisters Soulpie,” mean?
Brumit: When putting together three sections — the core section that has the guitar, keyboard, drums and singer (Soulpie), the horn section (Brass Knuckles) and the back-up singers (Sisters Soulpie) — the plan was once I could get them all kind of happening I could just push them all in together at once. But it didn’t happen that way. We changed bass players and went through a couple of horn players. You pick up people as you go along.
Gig: What is the band working on now?
Lynn "Coach" Fulps is the drummer in the band, Soulpie.
Brumit: In 2008 we learned a lot and met a lot of cool people. In 2009, we came out and really felt it was kind of a brand new year for us. We are stepping up and tightening the arrangements a lot more. We emphasized the horns more. We want to keep the soul and blues feel, but at the same time, adding the dynamic punch of brass.
Gig: What is the key to the band staying together, and to its success?
Brumit: We’re all friends. We like each other. If these people weren’t such overachievers, I’d love to have more barbecues and hang out.
Gig: What do you see in the band’s future?
Brumit: I don’t see Soulpie doing a national tour. Nobody’s going to give up their gig around here, but I wouldn’t mind playing at the blues festival in Portland. It’s just more about having a good time. It’s more about the rush they get from the audience. From my point of view, I just want to keep it humble and real.
Gig: What is Soulpie?
Brumit: I can’t tell you what it is, but I’d know it when I hear it. So far it seems to be working out.
Soulpie featuring the Brass Knuckles and Sisters Soulpie:
Michael “Mr.Soulpie” Brumit — Vocals/Harmonica
Martin “Marty Axx” Abts — Guitar
Doro “Lefty” Reeves — Keyboards
Kevin “Axelicious Kevbone” Freeman — Bass
Lynn “Coach” Fulps — Drums
Jardin “Eezy Breezy City Boy Floyd” Kazaar — Percussion
The best ingredients make a Soulpie
Soulpie, a local 13-piece band, played at The Mill Casino-Hotel on July 4 and at Shore Acres State Park in Charleston on July 18 as part of the Oregon Coast Music Festival. (Photos contributed by Grami Photography)
Wow. The sound that emanates from this group is amazing.
Although that can be said of many South Coast-borne bands, you can almost bet most cannot boast it has its own horn section.
The Bay Area-based Soulpie, which now consists of 13 band members, more than a decade ago was the conception of Michael Brumit, the band leader and lead singer. Now it features some of the area’s best musicians Brumit said he could find — each with an extensive musical background and most in more than one band while holding down professional careers or going to school. Brumit, who said his early interest in music was sparked while sitting on his father’s lap while he was playing the piano, has a bachelor’s in music and is in the process of obtaining his master’s.
Bands and artists a few of the band members said have influenced them are from a wide range, and include The Righteous Brothers, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass Band, The Beatles, Beach Boys, The Mamas & the Papas, Manhattan Transfer, Journey, Etta James, Doobie Brothers, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, James Taylor, Merle Haggard, Dottie West, Hendrix, Zeppelin, Cream, Blue Cheer, Iron Butterfly, and the Motown/Stax contingent.
From there, you make Soulpie.
Did I mention that five-piece horn section?
Michael Brumit, aka "Mr. Soulpie," formed the band, Soulpie.
The band, in pretty much its current form, came together in January 2008. It played about seven or eight shows last year, and about 12 so far this year. Soulpie has upcoming performances at The Mill Casino-Hotel this weekend, on July 4 at The Mill Casino-Hotel, in the Salmon Room from 9-11 p.m., and on July 18 at Shore Acres for the Oregon Coast Music Festival.
The following is a question-and-answer interview with Brumit who, once he dons his signature black and white performance suit, prefers to be called “Mr. Soulpie.”
Gig: How is it to be the band leader, and did you conceive of Soulpie?
Brumit: Yes. I had the plan in mind in 1997. Parts of it worked out in a former band. In June 2001 I said, ‘OK. I’m doing this and I’m doing it my way.’ There’s got to be a head. I coordinate, but it’s really a collaboration. Each and every one of the musicians I play with is a trusted guidance counselor.
Gig: What was your goal in creating Soulpie?
Brumit: I just wanted to be really fun with this, and at the same time maintain the highest standards of music by getting excellent musicians.
Gig: How would you describe the type of music Soulpie plays?
Brumit: Soulpie plays Soul, R&B, and some bigger band arrangements, but more importantly music that is soulful. There are many songs with “soul” that span genres of music. Many Country artists play soulful songs, many of the Rock artists from the 70’s played soulful songs, Ray Charles played many soulful songs and some tried to pigeonhole him into soul, brother Ray undoubtedly played some music that was straight-up country.
Gig: Can you name some of the tunes on Soulpie’s song list?
Brumit: Mustang Sally, Dirty Work, Are You Lonely for Me Baby, Shake a Tail Feather, Route 66, Moondance, Son of a Preacher Man, Soulman, The Sky is Cryin’, Take me to the River. We find the soul in the music that is everywhere and bring it out, Soulpie style.
Gig: Where did the current band first start rehearsing and when was your first performance?
Brumit: We originally started practicing in an old scuba shop in Empire. Our first show out was January 31, 2008. We opened for a jazz festival preview.
Gig: Did the band undergo changes to get to what it is today, and what does the name, “Soulpie featuring the Brass Knuckles and Sisters Soulpie,” mean?
Brumit: When putting together three sections — the core section that has the guitar, keyboard, drums and singer (Soulpie), the horn section (Brass Knuckles) and the back-up singers (Sisters Soulpie) — the plan was once I could get them all kind of happening I could just push them all in together at once. But it didn’t happen that way. We changed bass players and went through a couple of horn players. You pick up people as you go along.
Gig: What is the band working on now?
Lynn "Coach" Fulps is the drummer in the band, Soulpie.
Brumit: In 2008 we learned a lot and met a lot of cool people. In 2009, we came out and really felt it was kind of a brand new year for us. We are stepping up and tightening the arrangements a lot more. We emphasized the horns more. We want to keep the soul and blues feel, but at the same time, adding the dynamic punch of brass.
Gig: What is the key to the band staying together, and to its success?
Brumit: We’re all friends. We like each other. If these people weren’t such overachievers, I’d love to have more barbecues and hang out.
Gig: What do you see in the band’s future?
Brumit: I don’t see Soulpie doing a national tour. Nobody’s going to give up their gig around here, but I wouldn’t mind playing at the blues festival in Portland. It’s just more about having a good time. It’s more about the rush they get from the audience. From my point of view, I just want to keep it humble and real.
Gig: What is Soulpie?
Brumit: I can’t tell you what it is, but I’d know it when I hear it. So far it seems to be working out.
Soulpie featuring the Brass Knuckles and Sisters Soulpie:
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